Psalm 77:14-15
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
When the psalmist says God "declared Your strength among the peoples," it doesn't just mean showing off to onlookers. It implies that God's mighty acts were specifically intended to make His power known to all nations, not just Israel, so that everyone would witness His unique might. This isn't just a past event; it’s a declaration that God's power is universally revealed, challenging any notion that He is limited or unknown to the wider world.
You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist, grappling with deep distress and questioning God's faithfulness, begins to recall God's mighty acts from the past. He moves from intense personal anguish and doubt to remembering the extraordinary deliverance of Israel from Egypt, emphasizing that these were not mere human efforts but divine interventions that showcased God's power to all nations. This remembrance leads into a powerful recounting of the Exodus, highlighting God's saving strength.
Are the gods of this world truly in control? This verse declares a powerful truth about the God of Israel, setting Him apart from all others.
The psalmist starts by affirming, 'You are the God who does wonders.' This isn't just a casual observation; it's a foundational statement of faith. In a world filled with competing deities and philosophies, the psalmist proclaims that Jehovah alone is the source of all true power and marvels. The gods of the nations were seen as weak, imaginary, or limited, but the God of Israel demonstrates His strength through acts that surpass human understanding and capability.
This uniqueness is important because it reminds us where to place our ultimate trust. When we face challenges that seem impossible, we can turn to the God who is inherently capable of working 'wonders'—actions that inspire awe and exceed our expectations.
God's power isn't just for internal use; it's meant to be seen. How does He make His strength known to the world?
The second part of the verse states that God 'has made known your might among the peoples.' This highlights that God's actions are not secret. He intentionally displays His power on a grand scale, so that not only His chosen people but also other nations can witness it.
Think of the Exodus – the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea. These were public spectacles designed to demonstrate Jehovah's supremacy. Other nations heard about these events and were, hopefully, brought to a place of respect or even fear of the God of Israel. This public declaration serves as a testimony to His sovereignty and power, reminding us that God's work in the world has implications far beyond our immediate experience.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
zeroa' · Hebrew Noun
An anthropomorphic reference to God’s strength, agency, and power in action, particularly in the context of delivering His people from bondage or judgment.
ga'al · Hebrew Verb
To buy back, ransom, or deliver from bondage, often by the payment of a price; in Scripture, it primarily refers to God’s act of rescuing His people from slavery or destruction.
This psalm reflects on past divine acts of power, especially the Exodus, during a time of national distress. The psalmist recalls God's wonders to counter present despair and reaffirm faith in His unchanging might.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Exodus from Egypt
God delivers the Israelites from slavery in Egypt through miraculous plagues and the parting of the Red Sea, demonstrating His power to all nations.
c. 1446 BC
Theophany at Mount Sinai
God appears to Israel at Mount Sinai, giving them the Law and further revealing His power and holiness.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan begins
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites conquer the Promised Land, showcasing God's faithfulness to His promises.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, scattering its people and serving as a warning to Judah.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Exile
The Babylonian Empire destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling many Judeans and leading to a period of profound national sorrow and questioning.
This passage directly echoes Psalm 77:14, asking 'Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doer of wonders?' showing the psalmist is reflecting on God's mighty acts during the Exodus.
Isaiah 46:9-10These verses declare God's sovereignty and foreknowledge, stating He declares 'the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done,' reinforcing the idea that God's 'wonders' are part of a divine plan, not random events.
Jeremiah 32:17-19Here, Jeremiah marvels at God's power, exclaiming 'Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.' This mirrors the psalmist's awe at God's ability to work wonders.
John 2:11This verse highlights Jesus' first miracle, stating 'He began to show his glory, and his disciples believed in him,' illustrating how God continues to reveal His might through wondrous acts, even in the New Testament.
poolePsalms 77:14: "Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people."
By the mighty effects of it here following.
pulpitPsalms 77:14: "Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people."
Verse 14. - Thou art the God that doest wonders. The gods of the heathen could do nothing. They were weakness, vanity, nothingness. Jehovah alone was powerful. He could work, and could "work wonders." This clause prepares the way for the magnificent description of the deliverance of Israel at the Red Sea, which occupies vers. 16-19. Thou hast declared thy strength among the people; rather, amo…
When the psalmist says God "declared Your strength among the peoples," it doesn't just mean showing off to onlookers. It implies that God's mighty acts were specifically intended to make His power known to all nations, not just Israel, so that everyone would witness His unique might. This isn't just a past event; it’s a declaration that God's power is universally revealed, challenging any notion that He is limited or unknown to the wider world.
The psalmist, grappling with deep distress and questioning God's faithfulness, begins to recall God's mighty acts from the past. He moves from intense personal anguish and doubt to remembering the extraordinary deliverance of Israel from Egypt, emphasizing that these were not mere human efforts but divine interventions that showcased God's power to all nations. This remembrance leads into a powerful recounting of the Exodus, highlighting God's saving strength.
The psalmist, grappling with deep distress and questioning God's faithfulness, begins to recall God's mighty acts from the past. He moves from intense personal anguish and doubt to remembering the extraordinary deliverance of Israel from Egypt, emphasizing that these were not mere human efforts but divine interventions that showcased God's power to all nations. This remembrance leads into a powerful recounting of the Exodus, highlighting God's saving strength.
"You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah" — When the psalmist says God "declared Your strength among the peoples," it doesn't just mean showing off to onlookers. It implies that God's mighty acts were specifically intended to make His power kn…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
